the problem with the fiscal cliff is it would put in place deficit reduction, but it would put in deficit reduction too much, too quickly, and with the wrong parts of the budget. so it would let all of the tax cuts expire, it would let many things like the alternative minimum tax hit the middle class. it would have a big, broad-based sequester that goes into place, not gradually, like we would want, to help not derail an economic recovery, but abruptly, and it deals with the wrong parts of the budget. so what you want to do is replace this big amount deficit reduction, all hitting just at the time when the economic recovery is starting to take hold, with a more thoughtful plan that's phased in gradually. so it doesn't do too much deficit reduction up-front, but it puts in the necessary changes to health care cost, retirement, tax reform, all over time and puts us on a sustainable path to a better place. >> let me ask you a central question. is america different from europe? can america continue to run huge budget deficits, because the feds can buy treasuries and prop up the market, and be